Machine for bending wood



Jan. 19 1926.

L. JOHNSON muuimm: FOR BENDING wool) Filed Jan. 22. 1924 4 Sheets-Shut 1mVEN-roR Lnzaen dohnson ATTQRNIY WITNESSES ,m m WW L. JOHNSON v cums FORSENDING woon Filed Jan. 22. v 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTQRNIYJan. 19 1926. 1,569,935

L. JOHNSON momma FOR SENDING woon Filed Jan. 22, 1924 4 shuts-sheet 4luvpu'rofi 1 Johnson WITN ESBES Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

PATENT o i ricia.

LORENZOJOHNSON, or LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

MACHINE FOR BENDING WOOD.

"Application filed January 22,1924. swam. earths.

To all whom it mag concern." I

Be itknown that I, LORENZO JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of J eiferson and State ofKentucky,have invented a new and usefuljMachine for Bending Wood, ofwhich the following is a specification, y

This invention relates to wood bending as it is performed by a machineof the type in which the woodstrips are advanced into or between theshaping devices by rotatin feed rolls, between which thestrips are helHitherto in bending wood, it has been 'rcustomary to wet or steam thewood either before or during its course through the machine. Thisnecessitates drying the wood again, and not 'only does it requireconsiderable time, but causes the wood to i check and the surface tobecome rough, and

this togetherflwith the variations the grain of the woodresults in theroduction of many defective pieces which ave to be discarded. I pOnefof-the importantobjects of the present invention is, to. eliminatethe time and expense incident to the moistening or steaming andsubsequent drying of the woody-as WfillflS the waste of materialoccasioned, by the production of defective pieces. This objectis'accomplished by the simultaneous application of dry heat and pressureto the wood through the feeding rolls and forming roll, so that the.wood becomes seared or annealed, and at'the same timetoughenedandpressed into the desired shape without causinglateral expansion orswellingofthefibres, or other results which affect the strength orcohesive qualities of the wood, orits outward appearance.

Another importantiobject of the invention is toprovide improved meansfor adjusting the machine for acting uponstrips of different thickness,and for adjusting the former or shaping device so as to impart anydesired curvature to the wood and with any des red pressure.

, The-inventi n consists further in various details of construction andnovel combinations of the same, which will be more fully Figure 1 is aside elevation of the machine, with parts thereof broken away and shownin section. v

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the machine.

Figure 3 is aviewypartly in section and partly in elevation, lookingfromthe rear of the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for adjusting the former. Figure 5 is a sectional view'taken on the line 55 ofFigure 4. I

Figure dis a sectional view taken on the line 6+6 of. Figure 4. V

Figure 7 is a detailperspective view of the adjusting cam, and means foreffecting the adjustment.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a former, which is interchangeable withthe former shownin detail in Figures 4 to7.

*Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the former, shown i'n Figure 8 l i 4 IFigure 10 is a vertical longitudinal section' of the same. v Figure .lli sla section taken ohthe line 1111 of Figure 1.0. V

. Figii'ref12 is a side elevation of a former which is interchangeablewith those shown in the previous figures. i The machine is mounted on asuitable frame 10, -and the operating mechanism thereof is driven from amain power shaft 11 j ournaled transversely in thelower portion of theframe and provided with a drive pulley 1 2,or other su tablemeans forfurnishingpower. A counter shaft 13 is journaled in the frame 10 abovethe shaft 11, and provided with one or more spur gears 14, which aredriven by similar gears 15 secured to the shaft 11. h It may be statedherefthat for the'sake of smoothness in the operation of the machine, Iprefer to provide duplicate driving mechanism throughout the machine ateach side thereof, as shown in the drawings, but itwill be obvious thatthe machine will be operative with only i one set of driving mechanism.H

The machine is. provided preferably with two pa'irsof feed rolls, thelower rolls .16 and l7being secured tothe respective shafts 1S and 19,which are journaled int he sides of the frame 10, and provided at eachend with the spur gears 20 and 21 operated in unison by the gears 22which are carried ion by a shaft 23, and operatively connected to therespective driving gears 24 secured to the ends of the shaft 13.

The upper feed rolls 25 and 26 are secured to the respective shafts 27and 28, which are provided at each end with gears 29 and 30 connected byintermediate gears 31, which are secured to the shaft 32. The shafts 2728 and 32 are journaled at each end in a block 33, which is mounted forvertical adjustment in a recess 34 in the side of the frame, whereby theupper rolls 25 and 26 may be adjusted as a unit toward and from thelower feed rolls, in order to accommodate wood strips of differentthickness. For the purpose of effecting this adjustment, verticaladjusting screws 35 are threaded into the blocks 33, and are provided attheir upper ends with miter gears 36 in mesh with similar gears 37secured to horizontal shafts 38, which are journaled within a housing 39extending across the top of the frame 10, and provided at one end withhand wheels 40, or other suitable means for rotating the same to eifectthe adjustment.

The gears for driving the upper rolls are driven from the gears 41secured on a shaft 42, which in turn are driven from gears 43 secured toa shaft 44 and in mesh with the gears 20. \Vhen the blocks 33 areadjusted, however, to adjust the upper feed rolls, it will be noted thatthe distance between the gears 29 and gears 43 will be increased ordiminished, and for this reason means are provided for disengaging thegears 41 from the gears 29 and adjusting the same toward and from thesame tangentially to the gears 43. F or this purpose, the shaft 42 isjournaled in blocks 45, which are slidable horizontally within therecesses 46, and shown in Figure 2, and adjusting screws 47 areswivelled at their inner ends to the blocks 45 and in threadedconnection with plates 48, which are secured by any suitable means tothe front end of the frame in front of the recesses 46 and covering thesame. Suitable hand wheels 49 may be secured to the outer ends of thescrews 47 for adjusting the same.

A forming roll 50, preferably larger than the feed rolls, is journaledin rear of the latter with its lower surface substantially in horizontalalinement with the spaces between the several pairs of feed rolls. Theforming roll is carried by a shaft 51, which is journaled in bearingblocks 52, mounted for sliding adjustment within inclined recesses 53formed in the sides of the frame. Adjustment of the blocks 52, andconsequently of the forming roll, is effected by means of adjustingscrews 54, having a threaded connection with inclined sockets secured tothe frame, said screws having their lower ends swivelled to the blocks52.

For operating the screws 54, miter gears 56 are secured to their upperends, and are in mesh with similar gears 57 secured on a transverseshaft 58 which is journaled in the sides of the frame, and provided atone end with a. hand wheel 59 or other suitable means for rotating thesame. For driving the forming roll, a sprocket wheel 60 is cured to eachend of the shaft 51, and these sprocketwheels are connected by sprocketchains 61 to sprocket wheels 62 secured to the ends of the shaft 44.

Cooperating with the roll 50 is a former, the construction of which maybe varied somewhat in accordance with the kind of work to beperforn'ied. The type of former shown in Figures 1 to 7 is especiallyadapted for working upon strips of moderate thickness, as for example, achair back or table rim. It comprises one or more pieces of curved sheetiron or steel 63, adapted to be arranged in alinement, each with itsconcave side toward the roll 50 and supported by a yoke 64-. The frontend of each strip 63 is bent downwardly, and clamped between the frontface of the yoke and a fulcrum block which is secured by means of a setscrew 66 or the like. The rear end of the strip 63 bent downwardly andsecured by a bolt 67 to the flat face of a cam 68, which is mounted torock on a pin 69 secured between two cars 70 extending rearwardly fromthe yoke 64. The cam 68 has a downwardly extending arm 71, by means ofwhich the cam may be rocked about the pin 69 to vary the curvature ofthe steel strip 63. The means for adjusting the cam 68 and the curvatureof the steel strip includes a screw 72, provided with a hand wheel 73and threaded into a block 74, which is mounted on pins 75 in anupstanding projection 76. The front end of the screw 72 has a swivelledconnection with a block 77, which is mounted on pins 78 within a recessin the lower end of the cam arm 71. Thus, by rotating the hand wheel 73, the cam 68 may be rocked, and the steel strip 63 stretched toincrease its radius, or relaxed to decrease the same.

The intermediate portion of the steel strip 63 is pressed against thewood strip, not only by its own resiliency but by a pressure bar 79extending transversely across its underside and secured to the upperends of stems 80, which are slidably mounted in the yoke 64, andconstantly urged upwardly by expansile coiled springs 81, which surroundthe stems within a recess 82 extending transversely through the centralpart of the yoke.

In addition to the means for adjusting the curvature of the steelsprings 63, provision is also made for adjusting the yokes 64 bodilytoward or away from the pressure roll 50, in order to adapt the formerfor lessees strips of different thickness. For'this purpose ea'chfulcrum block 65isvprovided on the under side of its forward end with atransverse groove 83, which receives the 1 upper: edge of an angle bar84, thus forming across. the: rear side ofthe frame. As shown which areslidably mounted in longitudinal such as rockers or wheel rims.

is made of a single casting 64 which is vertically adpistable by'means'of screws 86 in Figure 3, a plurality of screws 86 are provided?vfor each yokeso that they may be alined later-ally with each other, and"the screws of each yoke are connected by a series of smallpinions '88soas to rotate in:u11ison, one of the pinions being secured to a-spindle88 which is provided with a hand wheel 89. p

In the former shownin Figures 8 to 11, the yoke 64 is adjustedby a meansof screws 86 in the samemann'er-as the yoke 64, and is .provided on itsupper 'face with a strip 63which'isclamped at its front end to the frontface of'the yoke by a fulcrum block 65 in the same manner as thestrip63, but therear-end of' the strip 63*is secured to a block 4102.having forwardly projecting pins,

bores 103 inthe yoke 64*. The block 102 also ill-3.3"?) threaded borewhich receives'a.

threaded spindle 104 having its front swivelled in arblo'ck. 105,which'is secured within.

heretofore described is a third former,

shown in Figure 12, which is especially adapted for bending extra heavymaterial This former in the :same manner as the yokes 64 and 6. 3, butboth the pressure bar 79 and the spring strip 63'are eliminated, and theforwardly projecting fulcrum block 65 having a transverse groove 83 forreceiving the angle bar '84 is an integral part of the casting.

.As. heretofore stated, provision is made for appliyng both heat andpressure to the strip during the bending operation. In order that theheat may thoroughly permeate the wood and produce the desired physicaleffect thereon, provision is made for applying heat through each of therolls 16, 17, 25, 26 and 50. In order to supply heat conin the form of acylindrical shell heated: by

gas from within. The detailed construction bymeans of which the heatissupplied is bestillnstratedin connection withroll 50, in F igures2 and3. As shownycach end of the roll hasa. head with: an inwardlyextendedboss 91,. which. supports a hollow inner drum -92surroundi ngthe shaft '51, and spaced therefrom and having, :numerous small[)BifOIittlOIlS 93, which form a gas burner. Gas supplied. 1 to thisburner througha passageway 94 extending centrally through one end of the'shaftshl and having an outlet within' thefidrum 92. The outer endof thepassageway-9a is adapted to be connectedwitlrthe discharge'end ofa gassupply pipe 95, and is also providedwith a suitable air valve 96. Thus,it will be seen that gasmay be continuously"supplied to the burner92'and burned during the operation of the roll. Suitable openings 97 areJl'OVidGCl'"1Il'-th ends of'the roll for the disc arge of the productsof combustion. Each of the rolls 16, 17, '25 and 26 is provided withsimilarmeans for supplying heat to-the wood strip.

At the rear encl of the 'maehinefa bracket 98 is adjustably secured tothe frame by means of screws 99 or the like, and 'this bracket has aplurality offpairs of eccentries 100 "adjustabl-y mounted, therein, andcarrying rolls 101 between which 'the wood strip is fed after passingthrough the for.- mer, so as to hold the strip uniformly bent positionuntil it is suflieiently cool*to' maintain its shape permanently.

As explained in the foregoing description, in adjustingthemachine tostrips'of different thickness, the gears-41 are swung forwardly out 'ofmesh with the gears 29 by rotating the hand wheels 49. The rolls 25 and26 may thenbe'adjusted as a unit by a rotation of-thehand wheels 10.When the desired adjustment is obtained, "the gears 41 are swung backinto mesh with the gears 29. Each yoke 64 -may be swung about itsfulcrum toward or from the roll 50 by turning its hand wheel '89. Thecurvature of the steel strips 63 may be adjusted according to the amountof bend to be imparted to the strip by means of the 26 and 50. The woodis thoroughly heated both before andduring the bending opera tion, and apermanent bend is imparted without the use'of any moisture. .Both thetime and expense of moistcning and drying the wood, as well as thedamage which is likely to be caused thereby, is avoided.

IVhile I have shown and described the specific details of constructionof a machine which is well adapted for carrying out the invention, it isto be understood that this is merely illustrative, and that manymodifications may be made in the size, shape and relative arrangement ofthe various parts thereof without departing from the salient features ofthe invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

hat is claimed is;

1. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, aconcave for mer cooperating therewith, feed rolls in front of thepressure roll and former, certain of said rolls being hollow and havingan inner perforated drum forming a gas burner, and means for supplyinggas to said burner.

2. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, aconcave former cooperating therewith, pairs of feed rolls in front ofthe pressure roll and former, apair of blocks in which the upper one ofeach pair of feed rolls is journaled, gears connecting said feed rollsand also journaled in said blocks, means for simul taneously adjustingsaid blocks vertically to adjust all of the upper feed rolls as a unit,and means for driving all of said rolls in unison.

3. In a. wood bending machine, the combination of a pair of cooperatingbending members, pairs of feed rolls in front of the same, each providedwith a driving gear at each end, a pair of blocks in which the ends ofthe upper feed rolls are journaled, intermediate gears connecting theupper feed rolls and also journaled in said blocks, means forsimultaneously adjusting the blocks vertically to adjust all of saidupper feed rolls as a unit, means including gears connecting the frontupper feed roll with the front lower feed roll, blocks in which the lastnamed gears are mounted, said last named blocks being adjustablehorizontally to temporarily disconnect the upper from the lower rollswhile the upper rolls are adjusted vertically.

l. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, aformer having a concave surface cooperating with the pressure roll,pairs of feed rolls in front of the pressure roll and former, a pair ofblocks in which the upper one of each pair of feed rolls is journals-d,gears connecting the upper feed rolls and also supported by said blocks,means for simultaneously adjusting said b ocks vertically to unjust allof said. upper feed rolls as a. unit, said pressure roll and each of thefeed rolls being hollow and having an inner perforated drum forming agas burner, means for supplying gas to said burner, and means fordriving all of said rolls in unison.

5. In a wood bending machine, the cornhination. of a pair of cooperatingbending 7 members, pairs of Iced rolls in front of the same, a pair oi?blocks in which the ends of the up, 3r feed rolls are journaled, gearsalso mounted in said blocks and connecting the upper feed rolls, meansfor adjust- 7 ing said bloclts vertically to adjust all of said upperfeed rolls as a unit, means including gears connecting the upper frontfeed roll with the lower front feed roll, blocks in which the last namedgears are mounted, said last named blocks being adj ustable horizontallyto temporarily disconnect the upper from the lower rolls while the upperrolls are adjusted vertically, each of said rolls being hollow andhaving an inner perforated drum spaced from the outer shell of the rolland forming a gas burner, and means for supplying gas to said burnerduring the rotation of the roll.

In a wood bending machine. a transversely disposed pressure roll, alongitudinally extending former having a flexible strip with a concaveface cooperating with the roll, said former being fulcrnmed at one end,means for adjusting the other end of the former to move the flexiblestrip toward or 21 av from the pressure roll to acconn modatc woodstrips of different thickness, and means for varying the distancebetween the ends of the flexible strip to vary the curvature of said.strip.

'7. In a. wood bending machine, a pressure roll, a former having aconcave cylindrical face cooperating therewith, said former beingfulcrumed at one end, means for ad- 1 justing the other end of theformer to move its concave face toward or away from the pressure roll,and means for adjusting the cairvature of the concave face.

S. In a wood bending machine, a pressure the roll, and means for varyingthe curva- 1 ture of said concave face.

9. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, alongitudinally curved flexible strip, means at the ends of the strip forsupporting the same transversely to the roll with its concave facetoward the roll, means for feeding strips of wood between the roll andsaid curved strip, and means for adjusting one of said supports to varythe distance between the ends of the curved strip, thereby varying itscurvature.

10. In a wood bending machine, the combina ion of a pressure roll, aformer cooperating therewith and including a yoke, a

curved pressure strip secured at one end no to the yoke, and a cam towhich the other end of the pressure strip is secured, and means to rocksaid cam to vary the distance between the ends of the strip and therebyvary the curvature of the strip.

11. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, aformer cooperating therewith and including a yoke, a curved metallicpressure strip secured at one end of the yoke, a cam about which theother end of the pressure strip is bent, means to rock said cam tostretch or relax said strip and thus vary the curvature thereof, andmeans for adjusting the yoke to move the strip bodily toward or awayfrom the roll.

12. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, ayoke fulcrumed ad'acent the roll, means for adjusting the yoke about itsfulcrum toward and away from the roll, a metallic pressure strip carriedby the yoke and having a concave cylindrical surface cooperating withthe roll, a bar supported in contact with the convex face of the strip,and means causing the bar to exert pressure against the strip.

18. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, ayoke mounted adjacent the roll and adjustable toward and away from theroll, a pressure strip carried by the yoke and having a concavecylindrical surface cooperating with the roll, a bar supported incontact with the convex face -of the strip, resilient means for causingthe bar to exert pressure against the strip, and means for adjusting thedistance between the ends of the strip to vary the curvature thereof.

and resilient means causing the bar to exert pressure against the strip.

15. In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pressure roll, aformer cooperating therewith, a series of feed rolls in advance of thepressure rolls, said pressure rolls and each of the feed rolls beinghollow, and means for supplying heat and pressure to said rolls.

16. In a wood bending machine, the combination with a pressure roll, aformer c0- operating therewith, a series of pairs of upper and lowerfeed rolls in front of the pressure roll, and means for adjusting all ofsaid upper feed rolls as a unit, and means for driving all of said rollsin unison.

17 In a wood bending machine, the combination of a pair of cooperatingbending members, pairs of upper and lower feed rolls in front of thesame, a pair of blocks in which the ends of the upper feed rolls arejournaled, gears also mounted in said blocks and connecting the upperfeed rolls, means for adjusting said blocks vertically to adjust all ofsaid upper feed rolls as a unit, means including gears connecting theupper front feed roll with the lower front feed roll, blocks in whichthe last named gears are mounted, said last named blocks beingadjustable horizontally to temporarily disconnect the upper from thelower rolls while the upper rolls are adjusted vertically.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature.

LORENZO JOHNSON.

